New Energy-Efficient Ways to Remove VOCs from Indoor Air

November 26, 2012 - People spend most of their time indoors, especially in winter, and while inside, they’re breathing air that can be polluted by indoor emissions. The solution is to circulate more air from outside to improve air quality. Doing so requires energy to regulate temperature, humidity levels, and to filter ventilated air.

In fact, 10 percent of the energy consumed in U.S. commercial buildings is used to condition ventilated air. Scientists at the Indoor Environment Department of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Environmental Energy Technologies Division (EETD) are researching energy-efficient ways to improve indoor air quality. 

Their work, as reported in the EETD newsletter, has focused on evaluating two ways to reduce indoor air pollutants without using more energy to increase ventilation rates: by developing a synthetic catalyst to reduce indoor formaldehyde concentrations – a common indoor pollutant and human carcinogen -- and by evaluating the effectiveness of activated carbon fiber filters in reducing other volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations.

The scientists say they are pleased with the results and are continuing to evaluate both solutions.

To learn more

Carnow Conibear and Associates is a demonstrated leader in the occupational and environmental health professions since 1975. To find out more, click here or call us at (800) 860-4486.